Jiang Rong left the hospital two days later.
On the evening of January 7th, Jiang Rong practiced her dance one final time in her room. This was the performance she was supposed to give before fainting in her first year of high school. After that, she never performed on stage again. She had practiced this dance many times back then, though a year had passed. She thought she would have forgotten it. But when the music started, she found herself dancing instinctively.
When the song ended, Jiang Rong had a light sheen of sweat on her forehead. She couldn’t help opening her chat window with Xu Si. She typed several messages but deleted them. In the end, she sent nothing. She wanted to ask “Will you come?” But she felt he wouldn’t.
January 8th.
At A City’s largest theater.
Jiang Rong was getting her makeup done backstage. The makeup artist admired her clear, fair skin: “Your skin is so perfect, I hardly know what to do. I feel it looks beautiful without any enhancement.”
Jiang Rong said thank you.
Many people in the makeup room stared at Jiang Rong, stunned by her beauty.
Jiang Rong sat before the mirror, putting her hair up. She secured it with a wooden hairpin decorated with a rosebud that was just beginning to bloom. She was performing classical dance, her prop a specially made umbrella with a light pink tie-dyed canopy and many white fabric strips hanging from it.
She changed into her dress, pure white, accentuating her slender waist. Her neck was delicate and fair, adorned with a thin necklace. Looking closely, one could see the small pendant was butterfly-shaped. She wore just a touch of lipstick, looking stunningly beautiful.
While waiting backstage, many male students found their eyes drawn to the girl in the corner. White down jacket, white dress hem peeking out, black hair pinned up with a wooden hairpin.
Jiang Rong kept her eyes down, wearing earphones to watch how she had danced this piece a year ago.
“What number are you performing?”
Jiang Rong removed her earphones and politely replied: “What did you say?”
“What number are you performing?”
“Twenty.”
The boy showed Jiang Rong his number tag: “I’m right before you. I’m Shen Jin’an.”
“Jiang Rong.”
Shen Jin’an wore a black hooded sweatshirt, military green cargo pants, and a black cap with some loose strands of hair showing. He looked Jiang Rong over: “Classical dance?”
Jiang Rong nodded: “Street dance or jazz?”
“Jazz.”
Jiang Zhixu had arrived early but couldn’t get backstage despite explaining to staff. She had to take her seat in the audience. Jiang Rong received her message saying “Good luck.” She replied “Thanks” with a smiley face.
Shen Jin’an saw her smile while looking down: “Your boyfriend’s here too?”
“Not boyfriend, good friend.”
Shen Jin’an smiled at this.
Soon Shen Jin’an went on stage. Jiang Rong looked at the audience but didn’t see Xu Si. She felt disappointed.
She watched Shen Jin’an’s powerful performance, which drew waves of cheers from the audience.
Soon it was her turn.
She removed her down jacket backstage.
All stage lights went dark.
When they came back on, a girl in a white dress stood center stage. Her dress reached her calves, showing delicate ankles. She held an umbrella.
Jiang Rong gave the audience a sweet smile and bowed.
Xu Si stood in the shadows, wrapped in black from head to toe, watching Jiang Rong on stage.
The audience was stunned as soon as she appeared. Discussions broke out.
“Who’s this fairy on stage? So beautiful.”
“Damn, look at that waist, I could wrap my hand around it.”
“So pure.”
“No words, truly beautiful.”
“Finally understand what ‘lotus face, willow waist’ means in poetry. She’s so pure, I want to get this beautiful sister’s contact info.”
…
The Jiang Rong on stage was completely different from usual.
Usually, Jiang Rong was extremely well-behaved.
But on stage, her smile was sweet, confident as if her very hair glowed.
Her dress swayed gracefully, every expression captivating.
Her dance was gentle, like her personality.
The pure white water sleeves floated with her movements.
She held the umbrella, spinning with the music, the pure dress of the young girl lifting slightly.
Her umbrella fell to the ground.
She tilted her head back gently, her sweet smile gone, like a pure white swan bound and struggling passionately.
Without words, she conveyed deep sympathy and desolation.
Xu Si saw the silver necklace gleaming under the lights – the one he gave her for Spring Festival.
He had never seen this side of her.
Everyone thought she was pure as jasmine.
But to Xu Si, she was like a proud little rose.
Stunningly beautiful and proudly magnificent.
The dance ended.
The girl’s dress swayed as she bowed gently.
For a moment, she thought she saw Xu Si.
Looking into the crowd again, that figure had vanished.
The audience, who had been holding their breath watching the stage, burst into enthusiastic applause.
Xu Si watched her leave the stage. A boy he didn’t know gave her a thumbs up.
He watched Jiang Rong exit.
Shen Jin’an watched her put on her down jacket: “First place has to be yours.”
Jiang Rong shook her head: “No.”
“You’re too modest. Just watch, it’ll definitely be you.”
Later during the awards, as expected, Jiang Rong won first place.
She walked to center stage under everyone’s gaze.
The host asked: “Do you have anything to say?”
Jiang Rong held the microphone, looking at the audience: “I have a very good friend. I wanted to dance this for him to see, though I don’t know if he could watch.”
Her life was already very limited.
But she hoped he would live toward the sun.
Forever passionate and beautiful.
Like his name – unrestrained and bold.
Hearing this, Xu Si briefly met Jiang Rong’s eyes on stage.
The girl in the white dress was pure and beautiful.
Xu Si wrapped his scarf tighter and fled.
“Can I add you as a friend?”
Shen Jin’an gathered his courage to ask for contact info.
“Sorry, I won’t add anyone, because I won’t dance anymore.”
Shen Jin’an felt regretful: “That’s okay, just feels like a shame. You dance so well.”
Jiang Rong just smiled lightly: “Congratulations on third place too.”
“That’s nothing compared to your first place.”
On the way out.
“Aunt Xu, I think I saw him.”
Jiang Zhixu knew who she meant and wrapped the scarf around her neck: “Darling, don’t think about it anymore.”
Jiang Rong looked up: “Okay.”
But she still felt she really had seen Xu Si.
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